Page 154 of Stars in Umbra
Her face betrayed nothing. She inhaled to control her breathing as he advanced.
‘I lost my way,’ she said, as if she believed it. ‘Too many corridors. Your estate is delightful, but what a labyrinth.’
Caidan didn’t smile. Instead, he came toward her in a slow, deliberate prowl, eyes unreadable, utterance turning glacial.
‘The guard you mislaid your way past is unconscious in a supply cupboard.’ He circled her now. ‘I’ve got heat signature cameras outside my office. They paint the picture of a charming artist, wandering into my office, accessing my private vault.’
He stopped before her, close enough that she could scent the expensive cologne undercut by a hint of gun oil. His voice dropped, cold and precise.
‘The game’s over, Miss Malvern, or whoever thefokkyou are. Do you have any idea what I do to those who infiltrate and desecrate the sanctity of my sanctuary?’
His hand rose, slow as a tide, and wrapped around her neck.
‘Who sent you?’ he demanded, his fingers tightening. ‘The Dunian government, the Sable Riders?’
Her pulse jumped against his grip.
She was seconds from snapping his wrist and launching her knee into his ribs when a shattering crash split the room.
Glass exploded inward as a streak of motion tore through the study’s tall window.
Her knees weakened when she sighted Mo.
Clad in full Sable Rider armor, matte black with dark-gold inlays glowing from active core channels, he moved like a specter forged of fire and vengeance.
Before anyone could aim, he fired with lethal precision.
Two guards dropped before their weapons even cleared their holsters. A third reached for a neural flasher and took a bolt to the sternum.
Chaos ignited.
Caidan released Rina in shock, whipping out a firearm, spinning to aim.
Mo was already moving, sliding shoulder-first and deflecting a plasma round with his bracer and returning fire in a clean, controlled arc.
The last guard crumpled with a grunt.
Rina didn’t hesitate. She yanked her gown’s side seam, revealing the slim armored plate Mirage had sewn in.
Mo tossed her a Sable chest rig, magnetic clasp whirring as it sealed over her torso.
Caidan shouted, raised his barrel, and fired.
She heard the hiss of the weapons burst an instant before it hit, but Mo slammed into her, dragging her close and pressing the activation button on her chest plate.
Her nanite-infused dress formed into an armored suit, wrapping her limbs and torso. A stealth cloak then shimmered over her.
She disappeared.
Caidan cursed and shot again. Mo’s suit flared, catching the edge of the blast.
He gave a feral growl, but didn’t stop.
He vaulted over the study’s desk, arm hooked around Rina’s now-invisible waist.
A bolt smashed into the fireplace. Debris rained down as Mo ratcheted backward through the shattered window, his propulsion boots igniting.
They flew into the freezing Highland night, with alarms still ringing and gunfire at their rear.
